Theresa Herrick took a break from her faculty position at Arkansas Tech University last fall to charge her batteries.

Now, the former department head and current full professor in ATU’s Parks, Recreation and Hospitality Department has returned from her fall sabbatical with a renewed vigor for community trails.

Herrick has an intrinsic passion for nature and the benefits others can reap from staying, or becoming, involved with the bounty of beautiful surroundings and social opportunities the great outdoors provides. She feels everyone should have trails to make use of.

“I have a few good years left in me,” Herrick said. “I am back in tune with my field.”

Herrick said she is concerned for current and future generations, so she has worked diligently to help bring a master plan for the city of Russellville’s trail systems to fruition.

This plan includes expanding trails in Russellville to include connections with schools, parks, downtown and Arkansas Tech. She said she wants people to enjoy featured trails like Bona Dea, what she called one of the most heavily used recreational facilities in Pope County,

“Our residents, and especially our youth, should have access to this type of resource — one that provides the experience of being outdoors and an alternative for safe inner-city travel,” Herrick said.

Herrick’s passion for trails and parks was ignited in her youth by one of her heroes, Fredrick Law Olmstead.

“Olmstead was one of the designers of Central Park in Manhattan during the mid 1850s,” said Herrick. “He is the father of landscape architecture. I modeled my designs after his.”

His designs are more naturalistic, avoid straight lines and are the prototype of urban parks, she pointed out.

“I grew up a quail hunter,” said Herrick, “and I have always had an interest for outdoors.”

Her interest in the outdoors can be seen throughout her professional academic career and in her work within the state of Arkansas parks system.

In 1976 she graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in outdoor and therapeutic recreation. Herrick continued to build her expertise at the University of Missouri-Columbia and obtained a Master’s of Science degree majoring in forestry with a minor in recreation. Her doctoral work at Clemson encompassed parks, recreation and tourism management, plus an emphasis in planning and design.

Although sabbatical is typically defined as a break or period of paid rest, Herrick planned an aggressive state research project and traveled throughout Arkansas to gather information. She visited and collaborated with other professionals in the national parks system.

Herrick’s trail and parks tour de force analysis of state lands began in Jonesboro in the fall. She then headed to Hot Springs on her way to Fort Smith.

Herrick then traveled to Northwest Arkansas to survey trails and parks in the Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville areas. She headed back to the North Little Rock and Little Rock locations to finish her observations at Delta Heritage State Park.

Herrick told The Courier the Delta Heritage State Park starts at Barton, near Helena, and goes all the way to Arkansas City.

“This is the longest ‘rail-to-trail’ feature in the state and was developed after it was abandoned by Union Pacific,” she said. “I enjoyed riding around with park directors four hors a day and feel the time spent is invaluable. The directors were generous to do that.”

She said that part of the state is “wild and woolly” because it is where the Arkansas and White rivers meet, and the presence of black bear in the area.

Herrick said she has brought plenty of information back to Russellville and believes this will be a big benefit to ATU.